New Delhi: United Nations (UN) offices across Asia flew their flags at half-mast Monday morning, as the staff observed a minute’s silence in memory of their colleagues killed in Gaza.
Other UN offices around the world will reportedly hold similar memorials throughout Monday.
According to the UN, more than 100 of its employees have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory, since Israel’s bombardment began on 8 October, in retaliation to militant group Hamas’s attack on Israel a day before. Hamas has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007.
On Friday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) officially put the death toll of its employees in Gaza at 100.
Some were killed while queuing for bread, while others died along with their families at home during the attack, UNRWA was quoted as saying by the media.
The blue-and-white UN flag was lowered to half-mast at 9.30 am local time Monday in Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Dili, Hanoi and Tokyo.
🕊 with a heavy heart and deep sadness, I joined UN colleagues in Viet Nam for a moment of silence, lowering the 🇺🇳 flag to half-mast at Green One UN House in Hanoi. Our hearts mourn the more than 100 UN colleagues killed in #Gaza and countless innocent lives lost.#StandForPeace pic.twitter.com/nZG5mA3tok
— Ramla Khalidi (@RamlaKhalidi) November 13, 2023
The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October killed a reported 1200 people, according to Israeli authorities, while about 240 were allegedly taken hostage.
In retaliation, Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip has killed over 11,000, according to Hamas’s health ministry, including over 4,000 children.
Breaking the news about the UN deaths, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini had posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on 10 November: “Devastated. Over 100 UNRWA colleagues confirmed killed in 1 month. Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, support staff. UNRWA is mourning, Palestinians mourning, Israelis mourning.”
Devastated. Over 100 @UNRWA colleagues confirmed killed in 1 month.
Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, support staff. @UNRWA is mourning, Palestinians mourning, Israelis mourning. Ending this tragedy needs #Humanitarianceasefire now.
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) November 10, 2023
UNRWA director of communication Juliette Touma said Saturday that they feared more casualties. “We fear there is more… many are unaccounted for, some might be still stuck under the rubble,” she posted on X.
We fear there is more …. many are unaccounted for, some might be still stuck under the rubble I tell @BeckyCNN this evening as we sadly confirm that over 100 @UNRWA colleagues were killed in #Gaza https://t.co/FZG32vwDTU
— Juliette Touma ⚪️ جولييت توما (@JulietteTouma) November 10, 2023
Established in 1949 after the first Arab-Israeli war, UNRWA provides public services like schools, healthcare and aid. Many of UNRWA’s 5,000 staff working in Gaza are Palestinian refugees themselves.